John res co adams



nitrs itatea stent titre.

JOHV EESC/O A DAvlS, OF CISCO, GA'LFORNIA.

LcltersPateizt No. 73,276, dated January 14, 1868.

IMPEOVED RAILROAD SNOW-PLOUGH.

t'ge Sdgehuls refont tn' in Hirse ntes jntnit mit mating nrt nf tige snuit.

T O ALL WHO IT MAY CON ERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ADAMS, o'- Cisco, countT of Placer, State of California, have invented an Improved Snow-Plough tor Railroads; and do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

The nature of my invention is to provide an improved engine or device for removing the snow from railroads, so constructed and attached to locomotives that light snow willshoot up the incline of theframe andbe deposited at either or both sides of the track, and heavy bodies of snow in deep cuts can be loaded upon it and he removed to a place of deposit.

In order to accomplish this object, I construct n frame of wood and mount it upon the ordinary or low cartrucks and wheels, atan incline ot' from forty degrees to sixty degrees, more or less, so that the front portion will skim the top of the rails. The shovel or scraper is made wider at its mouth, and has upright side pieces, which are curved and support a bonnet or gate, which can be let down to retain the load upon the incline. These side pieces also support u platform placed across the machine, upon which hand-wheels are placed for raising and lowering the bonnet, and a curved dash-board which slides upon the incline surface of the plough. Side pieces, which move in ways, are placed upon each side ofthe frame to be moved down to the upright piece when loading the plough. A bar passes lengthwise through the frame above the axles, and is attached to the back part ofthe incline frame, passing through an opening inthe rear end. rlhis bar is for the purpose of imparting strength to the plough, and providing a suilieient attachment or coupling-place to the locomotive, and has a suiiicient-sized opening in the back` where it passes through the back part ofthe frame, to admit of considerable lateral play in passing curves on the track.

To more fully illustrate and describe my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, Vof which- I i Figure 1 is a top view,

Figure 2 is a side view,

Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation.

A represents the frame or plough, constructed atV an inclination of from forty degrees to sixty degrees, as the oase may be, and is mounted on low car-trucks, B I3. The surface ot the frame or plough is covered with sheet or boiler-iron, C, presenting a sharp edge at the end, wider than the track, and alittle removed from above Vthe surface of therails, so that it will-skim the track and make a wide path. Upright side pieces, D and D', Vane attached to the point of the plough, and are bent so as to tit the 'curves in the sides ofthe point, and, when so attached, present a flaring mouth. A bonnet or gate, E, is attached to these uprights by arms or crossebars, aa, so that, when the plough is loaded, this bonnet may be lowered tothe face of the incline and prevent the snow from sliding ofi` when backing to unload from a gorge or deep cut, and is raised and lowered by means of a hand-wheel and pins, b, through which a rod passes, having its bearing inthe uprights; a cord or chain, Ib', being attached to the wheel, with one end fastened to the top edge of the bonnet. This wheel is operated from a platform, e, alsoeonnected to the uprights, and has a pawl or catch, d, upon it, against which the pins of the wheel rest tov hold the bonnet in place when it is raised. Upon the incline I place a slide, F, which may be made of iron, and movable up and down in ways, e e, at each side of the incline. A'share or dash-board, G, having double ourvatures with extreme points, is placed on the slide or false bottom, and is attached to it by a strap,f, with a pin,f, passing through it, and holes, ff, made inthe bottom of the dcsh-hoarcl, so that it can be confined in the centre'or at any angle' on the incline, and the light snow be thrown at either or both sides of the track. This share can be raised or lowered, operating in ways upon each side ofthe incline, between it and the iron'plates placed over the bonnet, on the platform, by a hand-wheel, g, and pins, with grooves around the wheels, in which a chain or cord, g', operates, which passes up beneath the incline over a sheave or pulley, L, with its end connected to the slide. This wheel is also held in position by a pawl, similar to that of the bonnet-wheel. Side boards or pieces, Gr G, of iron or-other material, are placed at each side of the plough, sliding in ways, z'z'z" 2", which prevent the snow from falling over the sides of the plough after it is loaded.

.For strengthening the plough, and to provide a place for coupling to the' locomotive, as well as to allow a lateral j bar to vibrate in turning curves.

swaying of the machine in passing around curves, I attach a stout iron push-bar, H, which is loosely jointed underneath the front part of the incline, and extends back through a slot, K, made large enough to allow the.

For operating my snow-plough, it is attached to a locomotive inthe ordinary way, and the share or curved dash-board lowered to nea-r the point if it is desired to throw the snow a great distance from the track, as in the case where light snow is to be removed; and if it becomes necessary to throw it all oneway the share is placed at an angle upon the incline, and confined in position bythe pin described above. When heavy or packed snow is to be removed from deep cuts, the share is removed back to the extreme end ofthe incline, and theside boards moved down the Ways, and the load taken upon the plough, when the gate or bonnet is to be dropped, and the plough withdrawn by the locomotive to the desired place for unloading, and the side boards drawn back, when the snow can be shoved otf the incline at either side of the track. By this means the snow can be removed from a track with great rapidity and ease. The point being sharp, and alittle broader than the track, it consequently cuts a little Wider than the track itself, so that the snow will not settle back again, and interrupt the progress of the train, after the plough has once been over the road. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The dash-board or share G, and the false bottom or slide F, operated by the hand-wheel g, and cord or chain, g', substantially as and for the purpose specified. v

2.' The bonnet or gate E, for retaining the load upon the incline, and the hand-wheel and pins b, pawl d, and cord or chain, b', for raising or lowering said bonnet, substantially as described; and

3. The side pieces D and D', movable in the ways z'z'z" z", substantially as and'for the purpos 4. The platform C, upon which the hand-wheels are placed, as described.

In witness whereof, I have liereuntofset my hand and seal.

JOHN RESCO ADAMS. [n s.]

Witnesses:

CHAs. E. OLNEY, JosnPH Kurz.

e described. 

